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The Hoods -
Harry Grey (Pseud. Herschel Goldberg)
1952 - Crown Publishers, New York - First Edition
A rare first edition in unfaded dust jacket. The first novel by Harry Grey (Herschel Goldberg) later to become Sergio Leone’s epic ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984) starring Robert DeNiro loosely playing Harry's life as David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson.
A partly autobiographical account of Goldberg, a Ukrainian born Jewish gangster in New York's Lower East Side between 1910 and 1933, legend has it that this was written whilst incarcerated in the notorious Sing-Sing prison, using the pseudonym Harry Grey to protect his family.
Housed in a bespoke black clamshell case with red morocco spine label lettered in gilt.
More details
Price HK$ 17,000
1952 - Crown Publishers, New York - First Edition
A rare first edition in unfaded dust jacket. The first novel by Harry Grey (Herschel Goldberg) later to become Sergio Leone’s epic ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984) starring Robert DeNiro loosely playing Harry's life as David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson.A partly autobiographical account of Goldberg, a Ukrainian born Jewish gangster in New York's Lower East Side between 1910 and 1933, legend has it that this was written whilst incarcerated in the notorious Sing-Sing prison, using the pseudonym Harry Grey to protect his family.
Housed in a bespoke black clamshell case with red morocco spine label lettered in gilt.
More details
Price HK$ 17,000
The Secret of Tangles. Another Case for Anthony Slade and Department X -
Leonard R. Gribble
1934 - J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia - First American Edition
Fine publisher’s copy with ‘File Copy. Not to be removed from office’ stamped to front fly leaf.
More details
Price HK$ 1,800
1934 - J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia - First American Edition
Fine publisher’s copy with ‘File Copy. Not to be removed from office’ stamped to front fly leaf.
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Price HK$ 1,800
Gas Light. A Victorian Thriller in Three Acts -
Patrick Hamilton
1939 - Constable and Company Ltd., London - First Edition
First edition of this highlight work, scarce in this condition.
‘A Broadway hit first produced in London under the title ‘Gaslight’, 'Gas Light' tells the story of the Manninghams who live on Angel Street in the 19th Century. The secret of the dimming gaslight and the mystery of the hidden rubies will captivate all.’ [Stageplays] Vincent Price arranged the rights for the Broadway production renamed it 'Angel Street' and starred in it, closing after 1,295 performances.
'Gas Light' was also twice adapted for film, in Britain in 1940, and the 1944 American film which was nominated for seven academy awards, including best actress for Ingrid Bergman.
‘Gas Light’ gave rise to the term "gaslighting", meaning a form of psychological abuse in which false information is presented to victims with the intent of making them doubt their own memories, perceptions and judgements.
More details
Price HK$ 8,000
1939 - Constable and Company Ltd., London - First Edition
First edition of this highlight work, scarce in this condition.‘A Broadway hit first produced in London under the title ‘Gaslight’, 'Gas Light' tells the story of the Manninghams who live on Angel Street in the 19th Century. The secret of the dimming gaslight and the mystery of the hidden rubies will captivate all.’ [Stageplays] Vincent Price arranged the rights for the Broadway production renamed it 'Angel Street' and starred in it, closing after 1,295 performances.
'Gas Light' was also twice adapted for film, in Britain in 1940, and the 1944 American film which was nominated for seven academy awards, including best actress for Ingrid Bergman.
‘Gas Light’ gave rise to the term "gaslighting", meaning a form of psychological abuse in which false information is presented to victims with the intent of making them doubt their own memories, perceptions and judgements.
More details
Price HK$ 8,000
Is She a Lady? A Problem in Autobiography -
Nina Hamnett
1955 - Allan Windgate, London - First Edition
A rare dust jacketed first edition of Nina Hamnett’s second autobiographical work, the first being ‘A Laughing Torso’ [1933], and published only a year before her death.
Although more famous as the ‘Queen of Bohemia’ in Paris and written about first and foremost as a subject for the art of others (from Henri Gaudier-Brzeska to Roger Fry to Walter Sickert, ), she was a well trained and versatile artist in her own right and one of few emerging female artists of the first half of the 20th century.
‘Reading her story as a tale of the emergence of a young woman into the modern art world, her writing – breathless as it can be – creates a pithy, vivid and often amusing picture of what it felt like to throw off the constraints of the Edwardian lady and reinvent yourself as an artist’ - Alicia Foster, Art UK.
Illustrated with seven photographs and six reproductions of her drawings, including one of Anthony Powell from 1927.
Beginning in 1926, Nina Hamnett ‘proceeds to unleash a reckless Niagara of hilarious anecdotes and preposterous incidents of the vintage Bohemian life of London and Paris in the late twenties and early thirties. This was a world of pubs and clubs and parties, of painters, patrons, poets, boxers and tarts, of champagne drunk with the rich, quiet visits to the pawnshop and studio free-for-alls...’
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Price HK$ 5,000
1955 - Allan Windgate, London - First Edition
A rare dust jacketed first edition of Nina Hamnett’s second autobiographical work, the first being ‘A Laughing Torso’ [1933], and published only a year before her death.Although more famous as the ‘Queen of Bohemia’ in Paris and written about first and foremost as a subject for the art of others (from Henri Gaudier-Brzeska to Roger Fry to Walter Sickert, ), she was a well trained and versatile artist in her own right and one of few emerging female artists of the first half of the 20th century.
‘Reading her story as a tale of the emergence of a young woman into the modern art world, her writing – breathless as it can be – creates a pithy, vivid and often amusing picture of what it felt like to throw off the constraints of the Edwardian lady and reinvent yourself as an artist’ - Alicia Foster, Art UK.
Illustrated with seven photographs and six reproductions of her drawings, including one of Anthony Powell from 1927.
Beginning in 1926, Nina Hamnett ‘proceeds to unleash a reckless Niagara of hilarious anecdotes and preposterous incidents of the vintage Bohemian life of London and Paris in the late twenties and early thirties. This was a world of pubs and clubs and parties, of painters, patrons, poets, boxers and tarts, of champagne drunk with the rich, quiet visits to the pawnshop and studio free-for-alls...’
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Price HK$ 5,000
Cleek, The Master Detective -
Thomas W. Hanshew, Gordon Grant (illustrator)
1918 - Doubleday, Garden City - First American Edition
Fine example of this collection of short stories featuring Detective Hamilton Cleek, known as the man of forty faces for his masterful ability to disguise himself. Formerly the villainous ‘Vanishing Cracksman’ but now reformed chief riddle solver for Scotland Yard.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1918 - Doubleday, Garden City - First American Edition
Fine example of this collection of short stories featuring Detective Hamilton Cleek, known as the man of forty faces for his masterful ability to disguise himself. Formerly the villainous ‘Vanishing Cracksman’ but now reformed chief riddle solver for Scotland Yard.
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Price HK$ 2,800
The Old Man and the Sea -
Ernest Hemingway
1952 - Charles Scribner's Sons, New York - First Edition, First Issue
‘I am a strange old man’.
‘But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?’
‘I think so. And there are many tricks’.
A bright first edition, housed in custom blue cloth clamshell box with swordfish design and navy spine label lettered in gilt.
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Price HK$ 25,000
1952 - Charles Scribner's Sons, New York - First Edition, First Issue
‘I am a strange old man’.‘But are you strong enough now for a truly big fish?’
‘I think so. And there are many tricks’.
A bright first edition, housed in custom blue cloth clamshell box with swordfish design and navy spine label lettered in gilt.
More details
Price HK$ 25,000
Darkey Ditties. Poems. -
Elliott B. Henderson
1915 - Self Published, Columbus - First Edition
Elliott Blaine Henderson’s ninth collection of African-American poetry.
Amongst the poems are such titles as ‘Cispus Attucks’, ‘De Bes’ State in de Lan’’, ‘A Plantation “Step-erbout”’, ‘Some Negro Characteristics’; ‘A Retrospection’, and ‘Sich an Itchin’ in Mah Shin’.
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Price HK$ 1,200
1915 - Self Published, Columbus - First Edition
Elliott Blaine Henderson’s ninth collection of African-American poetry.Amongst the poems are such titles as ‘Cispus Attucks’, ‘De Bes’ State in de Lan’’, ‘A Plantation “Step-erbout”’, ‘Some Negro Characteristics’; ‘A Retrospection’, and ‘Sich an Itchin’ in Mah Shin’.
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Price HK$ 1,200
Heart of the West -
O. Henry (Pseud. William Sydney Porter)
1907 - The McClure Company, New York - First Edition
First edition of this collection of 19 short western stories set mostly in Texas, by the American master of short stories with his characteristic twists and turns.
William Sydney Porter (pseud. O.Henry, 1862-1910) lived in Texas from the age of 19 to 35, including a stint working on a sheep ranch south of San Antonio.
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Price HK$ 2,500
1907 - The McClure Company, New York - First Edition
First edition of this collection of 19 short western stories set mostly in Texas, by the American master of short stories with his characteristic twists and turns.William Sydney Porter (pseud. O.Henry, 1862-1910) lived in Texas from the age of 19 to 35, including a stint working on a sheep ranch south of San Antonio.
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Price HK$ 2,500